Mexican Man Sentenced to Over 30 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on August 14, 2023.

Diego Martin Duran Acosta, age 32, was sentenced to 33 years and nine months in federal prison and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Duran Acosta was indicted by a federal grand jury in January of 2022. He pleaded guilty on November 14, 2022.

The conviction stemmed from incidents when Duran Acosta distributed methamphetamine. He voluntary joined an agreement with others to have the methamphetamine sold to him so he could resell it and share with other co-conspirators. A search warrant was obtained for his hotel room on September 20, 2021. Law enforcement discovered approximately nine pounds of methamphetamine, which is a Schedule II controlled substance.

This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in Alexandria, MN, the West Central MN Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.

Duran Acosta was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.